Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Hayes paled and moved toward her. “What? Vega was there after you were stabbed?”
“Yes. And he could have killed me, but he didn’t even though he said it would likely make his life easier. That’s when he told me all of this. And it’s why you can’t go after him.”
“Because he didn’t kill you? That doesn’t make him a good person!”
“No, but I don’t need anyone else coming after me. I can’t cope with anything more. Right now, he’s not a threat to me.”
He breathed heavily. “I want to kill him. And Derick.”
“Derick is probably dead.”
“Good fucking riddance.”
“You promised not to go after Vega.”
“I promised I wouldn’t. Not that Zander wouldn’t.”
“Hayes!”
“He’s not a good person. He hurt you. What did he do?”
“Just grabbed me a bit hard. It wasn’t that bad and I bruise easily.”
His breathing grew heavy. Then he closed his eyes for a long moment. When he opened them again, he seemed calmer. “What about all the women that they do buy? That they kidnap and use?”
Oh God.
She hadn’t thought of that. “We should help them.”
“Not we. But after we leave this town, I’m going to talk to Zander. See what he thinks.”
“Vega and his boss are likely dangerous,” she warned.
“So are Zander and his team.”
She nodded.
“Derick doesn’t deserve to live.”
“No,” she whispered. “He really doesn’t. I’m sorry I’m such trouble, Hayes.”
“Hey,” he said gently, cupping her good cheek with his hand.
Warmth filled her at his touch.
“You aren’t any trouble at all.”
That was a lie, but she let him try to reassure her.
“Thank you for all of this . . . I don’t think I could have done any of this on my own.”
“You’re never going to be alone again, baby.”
Right. Because Rohan was hopefully going to get out of jail and she had her other friends.
Still. None of them added up to having Hayes with her. He had a way of making her feel so safe and cared for. It was going to be hard to go back to being without him.
34
She sat back in bed with a sigh of frustration. “I want to do more.”
The hospital’s physical therapist shook her head at her. “No, that’s enough for now. You don’t want to push it.”
“But I barely did anything.”
“You’re less than four days post-op,” the woman said. “You’re doing amazing and you can’t push it or you’ll go backward.”
“But⎯”
“Devi,” Hayes said warningly. Then he gave the woman a nod. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t overdo anything.”
The other woman gave him an assessing look. “I’m sure you will.”
Devi narrowed her gaze at the physical therapist. What was she doing eating up her fiancé with her eyes?
Well, he’s not really your fiancé.
She had to keep reminding herself of that. It would be all too easy to fall into the dream that was Hayes.
The physical therapist left and Devi huffed. “She has no idea what she’s talking about.”
“Devi,” Hayes said sternly. “You will be doing exactly what she told you to do.”
“I don’t like her, though.”
Yes, she was aware that she was acting nuts. But she didn’t want the other woman near Hayes.
He leaned forward and grasped her good hand. “You don’t have to see her again after we leave. But you do have to listen to what she says.”
Well. That sucked.
But hopefully she could leave tomorrow. The doctor had made it sound like it was a possibility.
And she really wanted to get out of here. There was no privacy and she was feeling claustrophobic.
However, she was still weak and tired. So fending for herself was going to be a bit of a shock to the system.
She’d cope.
She always did.
There was a knock at the door and she glanced over as it opened and the detectives from the other day walked in.
“Do you normally just walk into a woman’s room without waiting to be called in?” Hayes asked. “What if Devi had been getting changed?”
Detective Brown scowled. “Well, she’s clearly dressed, isn’t she?”
Detective Williams looked slightly embarrassed.
“I’ll be sure to let Devi’s lawyer know about your views on walking into a woman’s private space,” Hayes said.
Her lawyer?
Oh, did he mean Gwen? But Gwen wasn’t her lawyer and she honestly seemed to have more to worry about. Devi would prefer Gwen focused on Rohan rather than her.
“Her lawyer? Why the hell does she need a lawyer if she’s innocent?” Detective Brown demanded, his face growing red.
He really should get his blood pressure checked.
“Is this what you do to female victims?” Hayes asked. “Have you done this before? Barged in on them without notice? Trying to catch them in a vulnerable position?”
Whoa. That seemed a stretch.
But then she looked closely at the detective’s face. He looked . . . guilty.
Okay, now she didn’t feel so bad about Hayes siccing Gwen on him.
Asshole.
“You have no right to accuse me of anything!” Detective Brown said. “Coming in here, throwing your weight around. What? Is she that good in bed? What happens once you leave? Huh? And she’s all alone?”